Drain



A. RONNING May 7, 1940.

DRAIN Filed April 25, 1938 INVENToR no 0L PH epN/V//v if ATTORNEY FIS-S- Patented May 7, 1,940

UNITED STATES DRAIN Adolph Ronning,

Minneapolis, Minn.r

Application April 25, 1938, Serial No. 204,062

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in drains or drain devices such as used in floors, sinks, tubs, and other places for draining off water to the sewer system. The primary object of the 5 invention is to provide a drain for this purpose which will form a so-called seal to prevent the escape of gases and odors from the sewer and which, in addition, will have a positive mechanical valve device or seal effective to not only assist in preventing the escape of gases and odors,but

also to prevent water insects of any kind from emerging from the sewer through the drain.

Another object is to provide a drain of this kind and for this purpose which also will include a positive sealing means or valve effective to prevent water from backing up from the sewer system through the drain as sometimes occurs with other drains, particularly when located inthe floor, due to stoppage or other difficulties in the sewer, or during heavy rains.

Another object is to provide a drain as described wherein a single float is arranged to provide and effect both the water seal and the mechanical valve action to prevent the escape of gases, insects, and overow water from the sewer and in which the action is entirely automatic and controlled by the water level in the-drain device.

A further object is to provide a drain device including a drain bowl into which the drain water may flow, and which has an outlet communicating with the sewer for the passage of the drain water under control of a float device arranged in the bowl in such manner that a small quantity of water will at all times remain in the drain to serve as a water seal. The float device also normally seals the said outlet mechanically to prevent escape of insects, and this valve or seal will be opened by the normal flow of water through the bowl to the sewer. However, should the amount of water increase in the bowl due to the backing up of water from the sewer the float device will rise, and bring into effect a mechanical seal or overflow valve to cut 01T the flow of water upwardly from the sewer.

A further object is to provide a drain device in which the said sewer sealing and overow valves are brought into play by opposite movements of the .oat device in such manner that the normal fall of the water level as the drain water iinally escapes into the sewer will serve to mechanically seal the sewer while the overflow or rise of water from the sewer will raise the float and again seal the sewer to prevent the water from emerging upwardly from the drain. A heavier than normal flow of drain water to the (C1. lez- 16) drain will not, however, bring into eiect the latter overflow sealing action since the water is at this time escaping into the sewer and the oat, therefore, lcannot rise far enough to close the said overflow valve.

A further object is to provide a drain device having the foregoing desirable and advantageous features, and which is of a simple and durable construction, convenient in installation and capable of being readily taken apart for cleaning or repair when necessary.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the vsame may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following detailed description, reference l5 being had to the accompanying drawing, where- 1n: l

Fig. l is a vertical and diametrical cross section through a drain constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the drain connected toa sewer pipe, and mounted in a oor.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified form of my drain. Y

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing still another modification. .25

Referring more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing, in Fig. 1 the character A designates generally my improved drain device as mounted in and through the oor B to carry drain water to the sewer pipe C. While my invention is, for convenience sake, shown in the drawing as mounted in a floor, it is to be understood that many other installations are possible, such as in sinks, tubs, tanks or other places where a drain of this kind will be of advantage.

The drain A comprises a main housing, body portion, or bowl 5 formed of metal or suitable material, with the open top provided with a marginal, outwardly turned flange I which is adapted to rest in a recess formed in the floor B around the upper end of an opening 9 cut therein. The bowl 5, as it will be hereinafter termed, depends through the opening S and is supported therein by the ange 'I. The bowl includes the annular side wall Il] and rounded bottom .Il

having an upwardly extended central boss I2 which is bored and tapped as at I3 to accommodate a short length of pipe I4 threaded as shown into the bore I3. The lower end of this pipe I4 is connected by an elbow I5 or other suitableconnection, to the sewer pipe C, and the upper end portion extends'vertically upward into the cup as shown to thus form, in effect, an upward extension of the boss I2. In fact the tubular outlet member represented by this pipe I4 or boss extension might be formed integrally with the bowl 5 if so desired. In any event the arrangement and assembly is such that a substantial, annular water trap chamber is formed around the member I 4 below the mouth I6 thereof and within the wall I of the bowl, and a quantity of water will remain at all time in the chamber, as clearly shown at II.

A float device, designated generally at I8, is provided and same is made of some buoyant material such as cork, as shown in Fig. 1, in the form of a disk-like upper portion I9 having a marginal,

downwardly turned, annular rim portion or seal-4 ing member 20. A plug 2I is screwed or other.- wise mounted vertically through the center of the float I8, and has an upwardly extended guide finger or stud 22 which plays freely in a vertically elongated recess 23 formed in the underside of the grill or perforated cover plate 24, which is se cured flatly over the upper end of the bowl by screws 25 entering the flange 1. Thus mounted, the float I8 is freely supported and guided in the bowl 5` so that its rim portion 2|) may enter and partially submerge in the water at II, as shown. The lower portion of the plug 2| is enlarged and tapered downwardly to form an inverted, conical valve head or plug, as at 26, which may enter and seat in the open mouth i6 of the outlet member I4 and so seal the same.

The various parts are so proportioned and provided that the oat rim 20 will penetrate the water II some distance, and the float will stand normally in such position that the valve 26 will enter and close the mouth I6 of the outlet member I4. In this manner, then, insects land the like will be prevented from emerging from the sewer through the drain, andA at the'same time gases and odors will be prevented from emerging by the valve 26 and, more particularly, by the water seal provided by the partial immersion of the float rim 20 in the water standing in the bowl. This rim 2Il is, of course, of such thickness and diameter that a space will exist both inside and outside the rim,v in which space the water will stand, as shown.

The foregoing is the normal position of the parts which they assume until drain water enters the bowl through the cover plate 24. As this occurs the buoyancy of the float I8 causes it to rise and withdraw the valve 26 from the mouth I6 of the outlet member. This movement is limited by the play of the finger22 in the recess 23, and the water may thus run freely into the sewer C until the flow ceases. At this time the float again descends and the valve 26 closes the member I4 while the rim 20 enters the water remaining in the chamber around the member I4 to restore the water seal. The action is thus entirely automatic and under control solely of the water level in the drain bowl, as will be read ily evident.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that I have provided a somewhat different assembly which, however, operates in the same fashion. Here the bowl 5a has the open upper end 6a, the extended marginal flange la fitted in a recess 8a of the opening 9a through the floor B' to thus retain the drain unit A in place. In lieu of the pipe I4 the boss I2a is enlargedupwardly to define the chamber for the water seal. I 1B, and extends downwardly at I4a to t the elbow I5a which leads to the sewer (not shown). The :Iioat I8EL is of hollow metallic construction to give it buoyancy, and has the downwardly extended rim portion 202L which dips into the water in the bowl to form the Water seal. The valve 26 is formed as an integral depressed and inverted conical portion of the oat and enters the mouth I6a to seal the same. The operation and function of the parts thus far described are identical with their corresponding parts hereinbefore described.

The perforated cover plate 24a, however, is provided with a soft rubber sealing ring 21 vulcanized at 28 to the underside of the plate, and formed to such outer diameter that it may just nicely enter the open upper end Ga of the bowl 5a.. A narrow retaining lip 29 is extended inwardly from this end Ila of the cup, and has its upper edge beveled or chamfered off at an inwardly and downwardly inclined angle, as shown at 3Il, so `that the rubber ring 27, which is longer than'the inner diameter of the lip, may be forced past the lip and will then expand outwardly therebeneath to yieldably and releasably retain the cover plate in place.

The inner surface of the ring 21 is likewise beveled or tapered oi downwardly and outwardly to form an angular valve seat 3| and, as the float ISa rises in the bowl 5a, its upper margin 32 will contact and seat against this seat 3I. This action will occur only under a condition when water might rise from the sewer and fill the bowl 5a, and the seal thus formed will prevent the water from escaping from the drain as now occurs with certain other drains. Such overflow or backing-up of the water in the sewer may happen due to stoppage in the sewer or due to heavy rains, as is well known.

It may be noted that, so long as the sewer is open, the float cannot'rise far enough in" the bowl to contact the ring seat 3| due to the iiow of drain water into the drain, for the reason that the water `will continually escape into the sewer. raise the float thus far, the :dow would be Inomentarily shut oi until the water in the bowl escaped, whereupon the float would fall and additional water would enter. The normal flow of water, however, would drain off to the sewer rapidly enough to prevent even this action.

The assembly shown in Fig. 3 operates in the same manner, and here the bowl 5`n has the open upper end 6b receiving the cover plate 24h' which may be mounted in any desired manner. The bowl flange Il supports the drain unit A" in the recess 8b and through the opening 9b in the floor B, and the bowl bottom has the bored and tapped boss I2b which vreceives a short length of pipe I 4b serving as the outlet member. The elbow Itb leading to the sewer (again not shown) is mounted in the lower portion of the bowl 5b and sealed therein at 33 in a well known manner so that it will communicate with the pipe I4`h. This pipe here takes the form of a nipple having an enlarged and angularly faced portion 34, so that it may be readily inserted in and removed from the boss I2b by a socket wrench of suitable form. It is important that the pipe I4b be readily removable, and for this reason it is made of brass or other non-corrosive material so that it will not become locked in place by rust or corrosion.

The float IISb is also of hollow construction, and has the downwardly turned rim portion Zlib which dips into the water in the bowl 5b, and provides the water seal I'Ib, as above described. The valve 2Gb is of the type, and operates as, described hereinbefore, but here the floatis removable from the valve due to the use of a stud Even should the first 'surge of water Y' 35 screwed in the valve and penetrating the float as shown. A nut 36 screwed on this stud 35 normally holds the float in place but,'by removing this nut, the float may be lifted ofi and the socket wrench aforesaid may be slipped downwardly over the pipe lill to remove the same. The valve 23 is retained in place (by means which will appear) and will clear the wrench during this operation.

A valve rod 31 is screwed into the lower pivoted end of the valve 26 and depends loosely down through the pipe |411, and extends some distance therebeneath into the elbow [b. At its lower end the rod 3'! carries a valve plug 38 which, in normal position of the parts, stands some distance below the lower end of the pipe Mb. However, should water start to back up in the sewer, the resulting rise of the oat l8b would draw the plug 38 upwardly until it contacted the lower end of the pipe Mb and so shut off the overiiow as will be readily evident.

The diameter of the plug valve 38 is such that it may be readily removed through the bore I3b when the pipe Mb is removed, as described.

Inasmuch as the water in the drain may evaporate, when the drain is not in use continuously or at regular intervals, the water seal may at times be lost, as will be understood. However, the valve 26, 26a or 2Gb will still seal` the outlet of the drain and the gases or the like will at all times be prevented from escaping from the sewer.

It is understood that I mayjvary from the specific structures and assemblies herein described, provided that such variations fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a drain, a bowl having a drain water inlet and a tubular water outlet disposed verti.

cally in its bottom, a float disposed in the bowl` and adapted to rise and fall therein overthe outlet member responsive to the water level in the bowl, and Valve devices carried by the float and adapted to seal the upper end of the outlet member in a lower position of the float and to seal the lower end of the member in an upper position of the iloat.

. 2. In a ydrain ofthe character described, a bowl having an inlet, a tubular outlet member extended vertically in the bowl, a float arranged over the outlet member and adapted to rise and fall in the bowl responsive to variations in thev Water level therein, a valve carried by the float and adapted to seat over the upper end of the outlet member in a lowered position of the float, a valve rod depended from this valve loosely through the'outlet member, and a valve member at the lower end of the valve rod adapted to seat at the lower end of the outlet member in an upper position of the float. i v

3. In a drain of the'character described, a bowl having an inlet, a tubular outlet member extended vertically in the bowl, a oat arranged over the outlet member and adapted to rise. and fall in the bowl responsive toy variations in the water level therein, a valve carried by the float and adapted to seat over the upper end of the outlet member in a lowered position of the float, a valve rod depended from this valve loosely through the outlet member, a valve member at the lower end of the valve rod adapted to seat at the lower end of the outlet member in an upper position of the iioat, the said float being removable from the valves for access to the outlet member, and the said outlet member being removably mounted in the bowl.

ADOLPH RUNNING. 

